OTTAWA, June 13 /CNW Telbec/ -
Students have put their full support behind the June 29, 2007 Day of Action to urge the federal government to take action to improve the lives of Aboriginal and First Nations people across the
country.
"Among other issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada, insufficient post-secondary education funding for Aboriginal students is a problem that must be addressed by the federal government immediately", said Mike White,
Aboriginal Students' Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students.
"Funding for core programs to support Aboriginal students has been capped since the early 1980s. The current standard of living of many Aboriginal people and the lack of government action to address these issues is deplorable".
Students and community members will take to the streets across Canada on Friday, June 29 to stand together with First Nations to build pressure on the federal government to act.
"We will be encouraging our members to participate in the day of action", said Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students.
"The student movement stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and First Nations peoples".
The Day of Action, endorsed by the Assembly of First Nation's December 2006 Special Chiefs Assembly, was supported unanimously at the May 2007 national general assembly of the Canadian Federation of Students.
The Canadian Federation of Students is an alliance of more than 80 university and college students' unions with a combined membership of over one-half million students. The Federation's National Aboriginal Caucus unites Aboriginal students on campuses across Canada.
For further information: Mike White, Aboriginal Students'
Representative, (604) 316-4515 (cell); Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson,
(613) 232-7394 ext. 21